As 2012 begins to fade away, I thought it'd be fun to look back over the year and pick out some of my favorite posts that I've written--everything from what I was learning about God to how I was fixing up my new home to sharing the news that a little bundle of joy is on the way! I hope you enjoy re-visiting some of these oldies but goodies as much as I have!

FAITHThe Only Resolution That Really MattersWith a new year comes new plans and goals and all varieties of resolutions. While I’m not much of a resolution maker (though I do have a fun one up my sleeve I will be sharing soon!), one of the things that I have marked the new year with the past couple of years has been to use this fresh start to settle on a Bible reading plan that will guide me for the following months.

Learning to Love the Life You Have: What I've Been Reading LatelyI’ve found myself drawn to books on the topic of loving the life you have now, with all its bumps and dips and scratches and imperfections. I suppose it can be all too easy to wish our lives away for something easier, prettier, happier, healthier—the list goes on and on—that we never take the time to appreciate that which sits right before us, right this moment. But that is not the way I want to live my life. Instead, I want to take the humble life that God has given me and learn to see—and embrace and appreciate—the glittering gifts that lie in its folds. So, that has been the guiding force behind the books I’ve been reading lately, and I wanted to share a couple of reviews on some of those books...A Few of My Favorite Things: Bible Study Resources EditionIn this Bible Study Resources Edition of "A Few of My Favorite Things," I look at five of the resources that I find most essential to nurturing a deep quiet time with the Lord and his Word each day.The Importance of Having a Devotion Journal (And How I Created My Own)One of the most important items in my experience for getting the most out of my daily time with the Lord is having a devotion journal. That's the place where I can take notes on what I'm reading, record prayer requests and answers, journal out my day and keep track of anything else that comes to mind while I'm sitting at the Lord's feet. I think I've finally found one that really works for me. One that takes the best of all the worlds of all the different kinds of tried—from notebooks to binders—and melds them into one...

What Real Faith Looks LikeWhen the hard times come, it’s not that my prayers and praise ever stop. Like Job, I’m well aware that, “Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” (Job 2:10) I’m ready to accept what God is allowing and even praise him in the midst, but am I willing to praise him more than I ever have before? That is faith.A New Understanding of SufferingFor much of my life, I’ve known suffering in abstract ways—things like waiting on marriage or pregnancy, making due with a small income, feeling un-cool and left-out in social circles. But I have never really known suffering in a physical, daily and constant-reminder kind of way until now. So I decided to start digging through the Bible for verses on suffering, as a way to help myself adjust to this newfound element in my life.

LOVE & MARRIAGEOur Love Story: The PreludeThis is the first post in a series I did, retelling the story of how my husband and I met, fell in love and got married within the course of a year. You can see all of the posts in the series here.

Overcoming the Fear of Miscarriage: Learning to Trust God with My Own EmotionsI took my fear of miscarriage and I laid it bare before a group of ladies in my community. As I laid this fear bare, though, I saw it for what it really was: It stems not from being able to trust God in that situation but from not being able to trust myself, namely my own emotions. If it were to happen, would I descend into depression and crumble in the face of that sadness? Would I be overcome by those feelings of loss and self-pity? Do I have the strength to keep on loving and leaning and looking forward rather than backward? Frankly, my own emotions scare me and I have no idea how I'd respond to that kind of loss. I felt God telling me that I need to learn to trust even my own emotions over to him.

AROUND MY HOMEPlaying With Paint Colors: Choosing A Palette for Our Entire HouseWhen I was first thinking about the colors for our house, I kept coming back to a vision of soft blues and grays and creams. But I wondered if it was too bland, too similar. But now, I feel emboldened to trust my gut. I’ve been doing a little bit of thinking, of palette dreaming. Here are some ideas of what I’m thinking...On Buying a Small HouseTo many folks, our three-bedroom ranch home is rather small when you start talking about working from home and hoping to have kids someday. But to us? Well that was one of the things we loved about it...

BLOGGINGMisconceptions in BloglandWithout even realizing it, I’d bought into the idea that what I saw on the screen was all there was to it. Hardships must not exist. Feelings of loneliness or jealousy never plague. Cross words never pierce the days or make you wish you could hit the “undo” button. The folks on the other side of the screen? They're never the ones wishing for something different. Of course, though, we know that in reality, that is far from true. Encouragement for the Times When You Want to Give Up BloggingThe important thing is not to dwell on how many people read Pioneer Woman as opposed to your blog, but to accept that blogging is a process. I am sure there were days when Pioneer Woman herself thought about throwing in the towel. But look where she is now—because she stuck with it. We have to stop dwelling on the things we can’t control—like how many people visit a blog or leave a comment—and instead deal with the things we can control—like whether we’re writing quality content and taking time to pen compelling stories.

My Advice About How to Improve Your Writing For Your Blog When someone asks me about how I cultivate my writing on my blog, I look at blog writing as having two distinct aspects: First, it’s how you tell stories (the words you use, the phrases, imagery, etc.). Secondly, it’s what you tell stories about (more like the plot-line of the posts, what is the big picture of the post?).

6 Tips to Improve Your BlogHere are six of the key things that I’ve done with my own blog that I think have been vital to making my blog as successful as it has become...

For the past couple of weeks, ever since we got the bulk of the work for the nursery finished (read: painted and major furniture in place, which you can see here), I took a break from any new baby craft projects. Sure, I hung her clothes in place and started sorting through her toys, but my ever-growing to-do list sat untouched.

Until the other week when I realized that time was ticking away. I'm now three-quarters of the way done, baking this little bun of mine. Which means I have less than 10 weeks to tie up all the loose ends that await!

So, I got back to it and started doing some crafting projects to better prepare for this little one. (Because I don't count on having much idle time for stitching and sewing once she arrives!)

Here's a look at a few of the craft projects I've completed for her:

FELT SHOES:I actually made these over the summer, before we knew whether we were having a boy or a girl, which is why they're pretty manly. Once she's older (and actually might "need" some house slippers) I'd like to make another pair in a lighter, more feminine shade (maybe a pale green or light gray), but for now these are a good practice pair!

WATERPROOF BIBS: These are crafted using some of those plastic table covers for the front and soft, knit fabric on the back, fastened with snaps. I imagine they'll come in quite useful once she's eating solid food (particularly the bib on the left that folds up to make a pocket and catch some of those pesky crumbs!).

CONVERT-A-WASHCLOTH TO A BIB: How smart is this? (I saw the idea for it in my Pinterest feed.) Just fasten a length of ribbon to some kind of clips (I used alligator clips, but you can also use suspender clips) and you can turn any washcloth into an instant bib and then easily toss into the laundry for cleaning! (By the way, I love these washcloths.)

TURBAN HAT: For the days when she's tiny and we're still battling the February and March chilly air, I wanted to have a cute hat option for her, besides just the standard-issue beanies. Then, I saw people selling knit turbans for babies and, since I failed miserably when I tried to learn to knit a few years ago, I decided to make a fabric one for her, in a pale sage hue. Then, I made another one out of a white T-shirt so that it will match any of her outfits!

HEADBANDS: While I was searching for the turban hat tutorial, I came across a turban headband tutorial to make the green headband on the left. Why not?! I figure this will still be able to sit over her ears and keep them warm--and cute at the same time! Then (when I was searching for ribbons to make the washcloth bib fastener, above) I found a length of extra-wide ribbon in my stash that I decided to convert into another headband for her. Needless to say, she's got quite the array of headwear options now!

PLUSH TAG TOY: I hear babies like those tag toys out there, so I decided to make my own out of some velour fabric and a bunch of ribbon remnants. Then I stitched a smiley face on the front and stuffed her so she's squishy (making sure that everything was stitched on durably!).

BLACK-AND-WHITE RATTLE: When I posted about my baby registry items, Susanne suggested getting a black-and-white toy for the baby while her vision is still limited to high-contrast. Inspired, I pulled out some black-and-white striped fabric and made a soft rattle (inside is a sealed, childproof prescription bottle that has some beads and wrapped with multiple layers of fabric to soften it up) that she can hold and shake while also (hopefully) capturing her attention with the high-contrast colors.

P.S. If you like these crafts or are interested in the sources for them, feel free to peruse my Pinterest feed, where I've bookmarked a variety of tutorials and craft ideas for all sorts of things, including our baby-on-the-way!

Seven months, you guys. I've been pregnant for seven months! That means that in two more months, this little baby we've slowly been getting to know will actually be here! It's incredible how far we've come and unbelievable how close we are to the end!

Here's an update about how the past month has treated me, and some festive photos to celebrate the season!

BABY. She is now roughly the size of an eggplant, measuring 14 inches and nearly 3 pounds. As she keeps growing, her movements become more and more obvious. Today, in church, I could feel her squirming and put my hand over the spot and it seriously felt like an arm nudging across. That's the first time any specific body part has been perceivable in the slightest. I also think I'm beginning to feel her hiccups!

ME. As for me, I am honestly surprised at how great I feel. I can confidently say this is the best I've felt all pregnancy, considering I'm now into the swing of my third trimester and my stomach is growing at an incredible pace. (For evidence, compare these photos with those from just a month ago!)

I've got lots of energy and haven't been too tired, so I'm able to live life quite normally. Sometimes my stomach does hurt from where it's stretching out (I can tell from that, my hunger and if I get really tired for a day or two that she's going through a growth spurt), so I've been slathering on cocoa butter and watching as my belly button is starting to flip out.

BABY STUFF. Last month, our family threw us two showers to celebrate our little bundle of joy, and so she's now got a closet stocked with clothes, is stocked with enough baby lotion and bodywash to easily get her through her first year, and some fun toys that I can't wait to introduce her to! The love and generosity she's experienced has been incredible and we feel so blessed at the outpouring she's received!BABY CRAFTS. Oh my. I have been on a crafting spree lately. I plan on posting an update specifically about some of those projects soon, but in a nutshell I've made her a couple toys, a headband, pair of shoes, bibs, and some nursing gear for myself. I also started working on putting together a baby book for her tracking the pregnancy (and integrating those letters my husband and I have been writing her). And there's quite a bit more still on the agenda!

Over the past couple of months, I’ve queried your input and opinions on a number of baby-related topics, such as what to look for in a diaper bag and if a baby monitor is really necessary. You all were so generous sharing your insights, I thought it would only be fair to share an update with you how I put all those comments to use, as well as touch on my choices and approaches to other baby-related items. To make things easier for you to browse, I created a baby registry with a bunch of the things that I picked out for our little one. You can check out that baby registry here.
Over the past couple of months, I’ve queried your input and opinions on a number of baby-related topics, such as what to look for in a diaper bag and if a baby monitor is really necessary. You all were so generous sharing your insights, I thought it would only be fair to share an update with you how I put all those comments to use, as well as touch on my choices and approaches to other baby-related items.

Otherwise, as I’ve mentioned before, when it comes to buying anything—baby-related or not—I’m quite the minimalist. On the one hand, I've been trying to streamline these things and not fall into that total consumerist trap of "I have to buy everything for the baby!" But, on the flip side, I realize that there are some things that can really make your life easier.

So when it’s come to selecting items for the baby, I’ve tried to think long and hard about my lifestyle: that of a stay-at-home-mom, doing some freelance writing on the side, and living in a small house with only one car that my husband and I share. Those things means that I spend a lot of time at home. So I decided to pick out an inexpensive stroller (not knowing how much use it will really get) and a simple monitor (since you all convinced me it was nice item to have!). And because our house is smaller, I wanted to keep lots of extra things to a minimum (and consequently am forgoing extras like a changing table).

Also, I tried to keep in mind our limited funds and figure out what I wanted to spend on and where I wanted to save. I decided I would rather prioritize things like a sturdy, ergonomic baby carrier (that my husband and I can both share) and high quality cloth diapers over things like a closet-full of clothes. So I picked up baby clothes at thrift stores or when they were on clearance, and asked family and friends who wanted to buy us clothes, to stick to ones that were more gender-neutral so that if we have a boy in the future, he can reuse them.

We have also been either given or able to borrow some of the big-ticket things like the crib that my niece had recently outgrown and the comfy chairs from my mother-in-law that will serve us for nursing. A lot of people choose to buy rocking chairs or gliders for nursing, but since we already had these chairs available for free, it made sense to use them and put the money that would be spent on a glider toward other things (like those mentioned above).

And I spent a lot of time researching every item that went into that list, reading online reviews as well as searching fellow bloggers' posts about their recommendations to narrow things down. Consequently, I am hoping that each purchase will prove a good choice and even investment.

This book was mentioned on another blog and credited as a life-saver for this first-time mom because it explains when babies are going through fussy changes and why This gym with a piano that she can kick against to help her learn to coordinate her movements

(second row)

This too-cute teether is totally trendy, but I've heard such great things about it (even from other otherwise-frugal moms)Ergonomic baby carrier that can be worn by me or my husband for long periods of time, and this carrier for using around the house and while she's a newborn and too tiny for the ErgoInfant car seat to carry her around easily when she's still smallConvertible car seat for once she outgrows the infant seat but still should remain rear-facing

I remember when we first moved in and it still felt all surreal. I was still grasping for phantom light switches in the places they’d been in our old apartment. Now, it feels like home. Even the places that stick out like sore thumbs (the half-finished crown molding in a couple of rooms, for instance) now are familiar and, in some ways, comforting. Because they are no longer foreign but they are the quirks of home—of our home.

I’ve watched as we take on little projects here and there, learning and growing as homeowners. Rooms have been transformed from drab tan boxes into places that reflect us. They hold all number of craft projects and personal touches, announcing to the world that this place is ours. It is where we call home.

And this home will continue to see changes. Likely more routine upgrades like painting the remaining walls, fixing those pesky crown molding issues, doing something about that tangle of a yard of ours. But also bringing a baby into here, introducing her to her new home. Where the paint color might not match the rug or the wood finishes might clash, but love abounds.

Finally, though, it's coming together. It's still not finished yet, as I regroup and try to figure out how I want to tackle the artwork and wall decorations for the room. (Which I'm beginning to realize seems always to be a hang up for me when I'm decorating any given room.)

At any rate, progress is being made, so I wanted to share a progress report with you...

In my mood-board post for the nursery, I mentioned that I wanted to go anti-nursery and paint the walls cream. I have to admit that I love cream walls. (That was something I always loved about apartment living--walls were always painted neutral colors, of which cream was often a popular choice.)

But I always chickened out of painting my own walls white or cream. I am not quite sure why, if it feels like a waste painting a wall white when you could be painting a vibrant, splashy color, or if I don't trust my own instincts.

With this room, though, I finally committed to giving my love-for-white-walls life. After doing some research on paint colors, I picked the hue "Swiss Coffee" from BEHR, which they sent me to spruce up the baby's room. The name makes it sound like it would be tan, but it is actually the perfect shade of milky cream. I like it because at first glance, though it looks white, it has just enough cream in it to soften it up and keep it from being stark and sterile. In fact, "Swiss Coffee" is one of their most popular shades for cream!

And since we were DIY-ing this project, we picked their Premium Plus Self-Priming, Zero VOC and Low Odor Interior Paint, so that we wouldn't have to worry about me breathing in any pesky fumes that might hurt the baby. Plus, they offer it in an eggshell finish, which is a good finish for kids' rooms since it is easy to clean!

Here's what the room looked like before we painted it (previously it served as our home office, which I featured in this post):

Those tan walls may not look it in the photos, but they were not in great condition. There were quite a few scuff marks and holes and glow-in-the-dark-stars that had been painted over (instead of peeled off before applying the paint). Fortunately, with a little spackle and two coats of the BEHR paint, all those imperfections melted away—even the dozen or so glow-in-the-dark stars that I wasn't able to scrape off!

Then, we started moving the furniture into the room, making use of as many good-quality hand-me-downs as possible to save money.

Here's what it's looking like now:

I love how the creamy walls makes the yellow and teals of the accents pop and allows me to have more fun with those accessories.

And, don't worry; I'll share more specifics about the room in a later post and keep you updated once I make some decisions on the artwork. But so far, I am loving how this room is coming together and heralding the arrival of our little girl, waiting in the wings!

I recently shared about a book I've been reading through and loving: Jesus: A Theography. I was just reading a section that made me stop my reading and sit, once again, in awe of what God has done in my life, particularly in regards to my marriage, and the fact that it's the thing he's been doing all along, ever since the first man and woman in bringing them together.

The authors are talking about the Genesis 2 creation story, where God has made Adam from the dirt and, upon seeing that he is alone, makes all the animals (from more dirt) to give his creation a suitable companion or helper. But none are found. So, he puts Adam to sleep and fashions woman from Adam's rib.

The authors illuminate what happens next in the story: "Once the woman was split apart from him, God 'brought her to the man,' an image that foreshadows the bridal attendant taking the bride to the bridegroom.

When I read that sentence, the word that popped out to me the most was the word "God." It was God who took the woman to the man. They weren't left wandering around the garden only to bump into one another and then fall in love. No, God orchestrated the entire thing, from start to finish, even to bringing them together and introducing them.

But it also made me think of all you others out there who are waiting to be that companion, who are waiting to have this story be your own story. I think of you because I remember that season of waiting, too.

And so I pray the wisdom of this Scripture over you: That it would be God who brings you to your mate and that, just as Adam waited on God to bring along his perfect companion, you too would be encouraged in your waiting.

While much of my decorating energy has been funneled toward preparing the nursery (more on that soon!!), our living room also got some much-needed attention recently.
For a long time, we’ve had a blue rag rug that sat under our coffee table. It was there in our first apartment and then again in our second. So it’s no surprise that we followed tradition and put it in the same spot in our house.

But as the living room has fallen into place—with my media-cabinet overhaul and the new buffet along the wall, the rug was begging for an update. It was too small for the space and the color was quite a bit darker than anything else in the room. It simply didn’t fit.

Here’s what it looked like before:

OUR LIVING ROOM: BEFORE

So for quite some time, I’d been looking for a replacement, shopping in stores and poking around online. But if you’re looking for something that doesn’t involve dark reds or browns or an oriental pattern, most of what’s out there will leave you pretty disappointed.

I was about to give up when I came across Rugs USA, which has a huge assortment of area rugs that you can browse by category (contemporary, animal print, shag, etc.) or color. I went straight to the contemporary category and fell in love with the variety to choose from:

Plus, they’re almost always running a sale so even a rug that may originally run $250 will sometimes be marked down to $100, particularly around the holidays. (I’d recommend signing up for their email sales alerts to know when their big sales take place—I’ve seen them offer up to 75% off!)

I thought it would draw together the dusty blue hues of the couch cover and the botanical prints well. And when the rug arrived—days later—the color shown on the site was almost identical to the one I unrolled in my living room. Plus, it’s 100% wool and hand hooked, so there’s no shedding to worry about and still cushy underfoot.

I put it into place in front of my couch and, after giving the coffee table a quick makeover too with a darker stain (so that it wasn't quite as garishly orange), the living room seemed that much more pulled together:

OUR LIVING ROOM: AFTER

I love it and how it really ties the entire living room together. What do you think?!

I have no idea how it has happened, but somehow, I'm already two-thirds of the way through this pregnancy. Everyone tells you that time flies once you have children, but I am convinced it's in warp-speed already! With three months to go and plenty still on my to-do list, I have to fight from feeling overwhelmed by it all.But things are slowly coming together as we prepare for this baby of ours. For Thanksgiving we went back to Ohio, where we got to see many

I have no idea how it has happened, but somehow, I'm already two-thirds of the way through this pregnancy. Everyone tells you that time flies once you have children, but I am convinced it's in warp-speed already! With three months to go and plenty still on my to-do list, I have to fight from feeling overwhelmed by it all.

But things are slowly coming together as we prepare for this baby of ours.

For Thanksgiving we went back to Ohio, where we got to see many of our family and friends one last time before the baby comes. I still cannot fathom that, even as the gifts and teensy-tiny baby clothes mount up. People say that once you start accumulating all those baby things, it will start to sink in. But I don't really think it will until she's actually here, until we get to actually meet her and hold her and get to know her personality.

It's a funny thing because I can see her squirm beneath my skin, I can feel her kick and move about. And still, she doesn't feel real. Yet.

But I think that's okay, to lay aside the expectations and admit I have no idea what it's going to be like, except that it's going to be greater and more lovely and harder and more demanding than anything else we've experienced yet. At it's essence, that's the gift of life for us all. And the gift of giving life to this child of mine, whose arrival we await.

For the past month or so, I have been reading Jesus: A Theography by Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola, which I received to review from BookSneeze. One of the first things that attracted me to this title was how the authors pointed out the importance of it being a “theography”: combining “historical Jesus studies with biblical theology, crafting together one breathtaking saga that tells the Jesus story in both Old and New Testaments. This flagship book demonstrates clearly that every bit of Scripture is part of the same stunning drama, what the authors refer to as the theography of Jesus Christ.”

It’s a different kind of biography of Jesus, looking at how he ties into every inch of the Bible, from the creation story (and how it reflects different aspects of Jesus’ divine purpose) through Revelation. And one of my favorite things about it is how rich it is, digging into each aspect so that I’m practically underlining every passage or my eyes are being opened to some new insight on every page. Plus, it is highly researched so that everything is footnoted (thousands of footnotes!) so that you can dig even deeper if you like.

Because it’s so deep, it’s one of those books you have to linger over, so that even though I’ve been reading it for the past month or so as a guide during my quiet time (and then reading through the Scriptures referenced for myself), I’m not even 50 pages in. There’s simply so much to savor and take in!

It’s truly a captivating read and has been incredible at showing me how certain themes are repeated throughout the Bible (such as how the parting of water—from the creation story to the Red Sea to baptism—is used as a symbol of bringing new life from death or void). So that I walk away—to do the dishes or something else mundane—and all I can do is shake my head in awe and say, “God, you are so smart!” It literally baffles me how intertwined this story is and I love that this book helps bring all those delicate mysteries and intricacies to light—making it one I highly recommend and can't wait to continue reading and savoring!

We’re rounding the corner on this pregnancy, with only days left in my second trimester. Had it not been for all the time I spent in the hospital, then I would have agreed with all the sources who say that the second trimester is the best so far. The nausea and exhaustion of my first trimester was gratefully absent, and (when I wasn’t recovering from my kidney episode) I felt pretty normal and able to do much of everything I’d done before.

(By the way, the end of my fifth month of pregnancy fell while I was in the hospital so I skipped posting an update that month.)

Here’s a quick run-down of how the last few weeks or so have fared:

THE BABY. She is now currently about the size of (evidently) “a large zucchini,” weighing around 1.5 to 2 pounds and measuring 14 inches long. She is moving around as much as ever, and I’ve gotten quite used to all her nudges. I think that’ll be something I might miss, though I also imagine if they start getting more forceful then I’ll probably be glad to have my insides back to myself again once she’s born!

MATERNITY ADDITIONS. I’ve now got a noticeable bump and have officially graduated to maternity pants. I held off for a long time, until about 24 weeks before I finally gave in, and I haven’t looked back since! (If you want to see a review of my favorite maternity jeans, click here.) I also purchased a maternity support belt because I’ve started having some lower back pains and have heard that can help relieve it. And, for fun, I bought some new winter boots using a bunch of Amazon gift codes I’d saved up from using the search engine Swagbucks, which awards you points for online searches you do that you can then cash in for gift cards and prizes. (If you’re not familiar with Swagbucks, you can find out more about it here.) I figure they’ll probably be my last fun splurge for a little while at least, with most of our resources funneling toward the baby, but thanks to all those gift codes, the boots were a steal and I’ve been loving wearing them!BABY STUFF. We have started collecting things for the baby, starting with her nursery (which I’ll be sharing an update and sneak peek of soon!). We’ve got the walls painted, crib and dresser assembled, curtains ordered. It’s slowly coming together and getting ready for her arrival in a couple of months! I’ve also started picking up things for her when I’m able to find a good deal, like really cheap used books on Amazon (also purchased with my Swagbucks!) and this cute, gender-neutral onesie.

BODY CHANGES. My body continues to grow; I'm now at the point where if I stand up straight, I can no longer see my toes! That visual has really reinforced how far we've come—and how close we're getting toward the end! My skin has also become extra dry, so I've had to take to using more moisturizer than usual to combat it. And finally, my belly button is officially losing shape, stretching out and on the verge (I imagine) of flipping out.

PHYSICALLY.Pretty good. I ended up picking up a cold from my husband which left me down-and-out for a few days last week (runny nose, sneeze, cough) but now I'm feeling better. Other than that, I've been feeling pretty good, with a pretty healthy energy level that's allowed me to feel normal again, although I've still been clocking a lot of early bedtimes and afternoon naps!

However, I have noticed that I have become ever-so-clumsy in the past couple of weeks. I’ve chipped dishes, accidentally squirted ketchup onto myself instead of my plate, missed the table when I set my glass down (resulting in water spilled all over the floor), walking into walls. It really has been ridiculous. Fortunately, nothing disastrous has occurred so we’ve just been laughing over the episodes which sound straight out of a bad sitcom or something.

I also was able to do some follow-up tests to check on how well my kidney was healing and the doctor was pleased to announce that it appears that my kidney function is completely restored! Hallelujah! I’d been feeling well for quite some time, but it’s nice to have the tests back that up, too. So hopefully we won’t have any more medical issues until it’s time to have the baby!

PREPARING FOR BABY.There's still a lot on my list of things to do (like research hiring a doula, schedule a birthing class, finish the nursery, etc.) but I feel pretty good about everything that's to come. Someone asked me the other day if I felt ready yet. The truth is that I don't, but only because I have no idea what it will be like. However I'm looking forward to learning—even the hard and long and frustrating parts that will come with it. For now, I have a pretty good peace about everything that awaits us!Related PostsMy First Three Months of PregnancyMy Fourth Month of Pregnancy

I'm pleased to introduce you to one online friend of mine, Brittany, who blogs at Three Years Down. She was one of the first advertisers to sign up on Life Blessons, so I wanted to take some time to spotlight her story and what you can expect to find her writing about, especially now as she's just starting a new chapter in her life in Seattle!

(By the way, here is one of my favorite recent posts of hers, where she shares about how she was willing to be vulnerable in front of a room full of 200 people to confess one of her greatest fears and the grace God showed her there as they rallied around her in His love. Read it.)

Also, if you are interested in advertising on Life Blessons, I am currently accepting sponsors for December. You can find out details, rates as well as my blog statistics here. Plus if you book three months at once, you'll get a discount. Email me if you're interested!

Please tell us a little about yourself and why you started your blog.

My name is Brittany. I am a recently single lawyer, who God just uprooted from Nevada and placed in Seattle. {It's all a crazy blur right now!} I started my blog in law school as a way to procrastinate. These days it's a way to relax after working all day, and connect with my "online friends."

What kinds of things will people find you writing about on your blog?
I write a lot about faith and life. You will find posts about my faith journey, singleness, and I predict, what it's like to take the bar exam a second time.&

What are your favorite posts to write about?
My favorite posts right now a brief recaps of the Influence Conference, which is a blogging/faith conference I attended in October. It was a great experience for both the strategy of blogging and the real life impact Jesus has.

What about blogging do you most enjoy?
I LOVE the relationships that blogging builds. I have "met" so many incredible and inspiring women through this little hobby of mine. Everyone has been super encouraging about my recent move and the crazy adventures I've been on in the last two months.

Do you have any advice for anyone who is interested in starting a blog or is still new to blogging?
Read Carmen's series on Better Blogging! Seriously! I reference it all the time.

What are your goals for the future of your blog?
I am actually considering a new blog, but praying about it. We'll see where that takes me! Something I'd definitely like to work on is monetizing. I currently accept sponsors and do some affiliate links, but it isn't anything too fruitful. I would like to be more intentional about making money out of my blog, while still remaining true to my voice and purpose.

There are days that sometimes seem to start off with an overwhelming sense of urgency, all for no apparent reason. I wake up and as I walk from room to room, I find myself presented at a to-do list that grows with every step, turning into a wild-haired beast skulking in the corner by the time I’ve made it to the kitchen to pour myself a glass of water.

I look around me and The Things That Must Be Done snarl back: Do dishes. Make salsa. Respond to emails. Remember to call so-and-so back. Mail letter. Update this month’s budget. Water plants. Prep tonight’s dinner. Start writing my next freelance article. Read Bible. Make bed. Finish painting bathroom. Watch Netflix DVD so I can mail it back tomorrow.

It goes on and on, and with every step, I feel I’m gasping for air.

Some days, that’s where I find myself and I honestly have no idea how I ended up here.

But I know what I must do next, even when it seems the last possible option, when everything is screaming at me, Do this now! You must tackle this! Don’t wait before you do this!

I stop.

I breathe.

I put on my shoes and I go for a walk around the neighborhood. I marvel at all the leaves swirling in the yards around ours. I venture down the road and chuckle as a little mutt of a dog scampers toward me with a friendly bark to say, “Hello!”

I keep walking, past the house that reminds of a castle with the turret in the front yard, and smile when I make my way to the end of our street and watch the horses grazing in the yard (seriously), with a picturesque pond in the distance. (Maybe someday I'll befriend the family so I can use these moments to drink in the vista from the bench on the edge of the water.)

I walk back and make my way up our driveway, corralling sticks and branches that have littered the yard. I stack them in a pile and I unlock the front door, coming back into this house of mine, which is now a completely different place.

I’d put off getting any maternity clothes as long as possible. Mostly because whenever I did peruse the maternity sections at different shops, everything felt too frumpy or boring for my tastes. So, I pulled out all my tunic-style or empire-wasted shirts, added long tank tops for extra coverage, and wore my regular jeans with the zipper unzipped.

It worked for the first few months, but once I rounded the corner on my fifth month of pregnancy and gained an undeniable pooch, I knew it was time to upgrade to some real maternity pants.

I’d mentioned before that I really wanted to find some cute skinny jeans, which have always been a wardrobe staple of mine and seemed especially suited to off-setting the boxy and flowy tops of pregnancy. But that is easier said than done; I soon discovered that it can be awfully hard to track down clothes that don’t scream “maternity!”

Fortunately, though, I came across Séraphine, an apparel company that specializes in trendy maternity clothes that are hip enough that plenty of pregnant celebrities keep their garments in heavy rotation. They carry a ton of options to get you through your entire pregnancy in style—from bright, candy-colored maternity skinnies to elegant, nursing-friendly tops. Their maternity-friendly options take you from pajamas to work clothes even to fancy evening-wear. Basically whatever you’re looking for, they’ve got something to offer.

They are made of a stretchy (but not spandex-y) lighter-weight jean material, in a nice, midnight-y blue hue. The material means they hug my legs in the right spots (without making them look like they’re encased sausages) while the color makes them incredibly versatile—a great everyday pair that can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion. And because the fabric isn’t too heavy, they tuck easily into boots for the winter (as you can see in the photo to the right).

The sizing is right-on. I am always a little weary of buying clothes of any sort online without trying them on first, since I can wear any number of sizes, depending on the brand. But I used the sizing guide on Séraphine’s website, measured my hips, and crossed my fingers that they’d be an okay fit. They were perfect! Plus, I love the length of the leg: not too long (like most designer jeans tend to be) but just long enough that they bunch up ever-so-slightly at the cuff.

They hold up well to daily wear. I typically try to get a few days’ wear out of any given pair of jeans (and sometimes more!). So I was pleased that these jeans didn’t lose their shape or stretch-out after being worn a few days in a row. Plus, when I washed them, they didn’t bleed, despite their dark hue. I air-dried them and there was no awkward “break-in” period afterward; I pulled them on and they fit as good as new!

They have a really sturdy, stretchy elastic waistband, which means you don’t have to worry about tugging them up at all—they stay put and don’t show under your clothes. The band sits under-the-bump, as opposed to most maternity jeans that stretch up over your belly (you can see a photo of it in the slideshow here). The great thing about that is that it makes it so that these pants don’t have to just be relegated solely to pregnancy—I fully expect that they’ll make for a super comfy (and fashionable) fit even after our little one has arrived!

As most of you know, I’m currently pregnant with my first baby (just a couple weeks shy of my third trimester!). I know there’s still plenty of time to get my ducks in a row before the baby comes (I’m not due until late February), but of course I’m buzzing with questions now and, as a first-time mom, have been doing a fair amount of research to get ready. Lately, I’ve been trying to figure out what things I want to make sure to get in preparation for the baby.
As most of you know, I’m currently pregnant with my first baby (just a couple weeks shy of my third trimester!). I know there’s still plenty of time to get my ducks in a row before the baby comes (I’m not due until late February), but of course I’m buzzing with questions now and, as a first-time mom, have been doing a fair amount of research to get ready.

But of course, I know that you all are a treasure-trove of information, whether you either have kids of your own, have helped raise siblings or are master babysitters, so I wanted to start posing some of my questions (from big to small) for you to chime in on. (If you missed it, a previous question I posed to readers was whether you really need a diaper bag or not. Click here to read what everyone had to say!)

Do you really need a baby monitor? Our house is pretty small, about 1,500 square feet, and a ranch level. The baby’s room will be catty-corner from our bedroom. Thanks to no television, our house stays pretty quiet. So I just wonder whether a baby monitor is necessary and will keeping the door cracked do the job, or is the peace of mind worth the expense?

If you have any insights to share, please let me know in the comments. And thanks in advance!